Dr Saif Abed, The AbedGraham Group

Dr Abed is a globally recognised healthcare cybersecurity leader, cyber-policy expert, and former NHS doctor. He specialises in preparing public healthcare systems for ransomware attacks and assessing patient safety impacts. As a Partner at The AbedGraham Group, he provides cybersecurity risk advisory services. He also advises the World Health Organization’s Biosecurity and Health Security Protection Unit, supporting UN member states in enhancing cyber-resilience. Additionally, he is a healthcare cybersecurity expert for the European Commission’s Horizon, HaDEA, and Digital Europe Programmes.

Justin Ash, Spire Healthcare

Justin Ash was appointed chief executive officer and an executive director in October 2017.

Justin was previously chief executive of Oasis Dental Care between 2008 and 2017 before leading its sale to Bupa. He was previously a senior consultant with Bain and Company in London and Paris, and a non-executive board member and chair of the audit and risk committee of Al Nadhi Medical Company. He was chair of Independent Healthcare Providers Network until December 2020 and is a trustee of Fraxinus Trust and chair of the Freemasons Fund for Surgical Research.

Justin is chair of the Executive Committee and a member of the Clinical Governance and Safety, Disclosure and Safety, Quality and Risk committees.

Duncan Astill, Mills & Reeves

Duncan is a specialist Criminal/Regulatory lawyer, with a broad range of experience, developed, over the last 30 years, of a number of different regulatory regimes.  He is a true specialist in Police, Health and Safety and CQC investigations and prosecutions in health and care home settings. He has dealt with hundreds of such investigations over the years including cases of corporate manslaughter. He has an excellent record of helping clients prevent investigations becoming prosecutions. Duncan also advises clients in respect of Inquests and Inquiries. He is currently the Recognised Legal Representative for three core participants to the Lampard Inquiry.

Steve Brine, Consultant, former MP

Steve Brine is a consultant, podcaster and former MP for Winchester, first elected in 2010. A Conservative, he held various government roles, including PPS to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Assistant Government Whip, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health. In 2022, he became Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee. Before politics, Steve worked in consultancy and PR, including for The Azalea Group.

Dr Cliff Bucknall, HCA UK

Cliff is HCA UK’s Chief Medical Officer and provides leadership for their clinical services and has led the introduction of HCA’s UK’s clinical department structure. Before becoming Chief Medical Officer in 2017, Cliff was previously Cardiac Medical Director and had an established cardiology practice at the London Bridge Hospital.

Cliff qualified from Westminster Medical School before becoming a Consultant Cardiologist at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He was appointed Clinical Director of Cardiology at Guy’s Hospital and subsequently became Clinical Director of Cardiac Services for Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Cliff was also cardiac special advisor to the Metropolitan Police and Chief Medical Officer for Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance.

Dr Penny Dash, NW London Integrated Care System

Penny is a former hospital and public health doctor turned senior healthcare advisor. She was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company (2009-2021), leading its European healthcare practice and supporting health system improvements globally.

Previously, she was Director of Strategy for the NHS and the Department of Health, Vice Chairman of the King’s Fund, and a Non-Executive Director at Monitor. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, she holds an MSc in Public Health Medicine and an MBA from Stanford as a Fulbright Scholar. In 2011, she was named “Advisor of the Year” by Health Investor Magazine.

Nigel Edwards, Health Policy Advisor

Nigel Edwards is an independent health policy expert advising WHO, PPL, NAPC, and RAND Europe. He is also an expert advisor to the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

Previously, he was Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust (2013-2023) and has held roles at the King’s Fund, KPMG, and the NHS Confederation, where he was Director of Policy for 11 years. An honorary visiting professor at LSHTM, he specialises in healthcare innovation, service delivery, and policy analysis. His recent work includes strategy development for teaching hospitals, rural health systems, and community pharmacy.

Amar Shah, Deloitte

Amar leads Deloitte UK's award-winning M&A Advisory Healthcare and Life Sciences practice. He has over 20 years of sector experience and has been lead advisor on a number of transactions including: healthtech, AI and data analytics.

He has previously worked at Merck Serono and Actavis in research and commercial management roles, and at an Investment Bank in Paris specialising in medtech & pharma. Amar holds an MBA (HEC) and is a Chartered Marketer (ACIM). He was also nominated in the 2022 HealthInvestor Power50 'One to Watch' category.

Sam Shah,  College of Medicine and Dentistry Ulster University

Sam Shah is Professor of Digital Health at Ulster University and an NHS Consultant at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Formerly Director of Digital Development for the NHS, he has advised governments, regulators, and public bodies on digital transformation.

With expertise in healthtech regulation, public health, and behaviour change, Sam has worked with healthcare organisations on technology and innovation. He holds several advisory and non-executive roles across health and tech.

Oonagh Sharma, Bevan Brittan

Oonagh advises public and private healthcare organisations on HR, workforce matters, and data protection. She has successfully handled employment tribunal and appeal cases, including unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, and discrimination claims. She regularly delivers training on employment law topics such as discrimination, performance management, MHPS, and workplace investigations. In 2022, Legal 500 recognised her as a "Rising Star."

Sir David Sloman, IHI

Sir David has over 40 years of experience in healthcare leadership and was knighted in 2017 for his services to the NHS. He was NHS England’s Chief Operating Officer, overseeing care for 56 million people and a £180 billion budget. Previously, he led the Royal Free London to foundation status and oversaw the acquisition of Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals. He also served as NHS regional director for London, guiding the response to Covid-19. Named the fourth-most influential figure in English health policy in 2022, he is now a Senior Advisor to the IHI and a healthcare trustee.

Rachel Sylvester, The Times

Rachel Sylvester is a political columnist and interviewer for The Times. She was chair of The Times Health Commission and Times Education Commission. She is now chairing the Times Crime and Justice Commission. She joined The Times in 2008.